Easy-going atmosphere leads to comfortable, successful workers

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General Manager Rick Heben shares ideas with his team during a weekly meeting. Coldwell Banker employees say teamwork and continuing education at the workplace give them opportunities for advancement.

Tristan Navera General Manager Rick Heben shares ideas with his team during a weekly meeting. Coldwell Banker employees say teamwork and continuing education at the workplace give them opportunities for advancement.

Coldwell Banker’s has been employing people in an industry that has been a struggle for most.

By Tristan Navera, Staff Writer Updated 12:08 PM Friday, January 27, 2012

A hands-on approach to technology keeps Coldwell Banker’s real estate agents pushing for success.

The Dayton corporate partnership, opened in 1967, employs 300 Realtors as well as 12 mortgage specialists, 14 title specialists and 28 support staff in nine independently-owned offices in Dayton. Coldwell Banker, a San Francisco-based realty chain, has 90,000 agents in 3,300 offices — including 600 outside of the United States.

“Every one of our Realtors has their own interactive website,” said Rick Heben, general manager for the Dayton-area operation.

Coldwell Banker has sought to keep its agents on the edge of the digital age, embracing social media, such as Facebook, to ensure their postings get as many views as possible. Behind the scenes, the realtors go through continual education in the company in both sales practices and the latest in real estate technologies.

The continuing education opportunities and “team concept” have contributed to a friendly environment, Heben said, and keeps everyone easygoing.

“We have a good atmosphere, a team atmosphere.” Heben said.

Carol Ludwig, a bookkeeper of 27 years for the company, said the corporate office beats her last jobs with sheer pleasant attitude.

“The people, the agents work well with everyone else,” Ludwig said. “The people around here are good. They take care of us here.”

Real estate, already a traditionally high-turnover industry, has been further exacerbated by the continuing economic difficulties, but Heben said Coldwell Banker has kept turnover low in addition to bringing in 50 or more new agents a year — many of whom are new to the industry.

The satisfaction prompted employees to award the business for the opportunities it offers — citing the many expos, education and vertical momentum as conducive to success in the tricky real estate business.

The real estate agents essentially operate as independent contractors, but the company managers keep in constant contact to provide support.

“Instead of somebody dictating them, it’s someone trying to coach them with the tools to succeed.” Heben said, “Our managers are coaches; we’re here to serve them.”